How to cope with memory loss?

 Forgetting things occurs in everyone once in a while, but is much more common with aging. Mild forgetfulness is normal with aging and is not a serious memory problem, since it usually doesn’t affect the ability to carry out normal daily activities. In addition age-related forgetfulness can be easily prevented, slowed down or even stopped by staying mentally active (for example through reading, writing or learning a new skill), finding hobbies, maintaining social interactions and making proper adjustments to the lifestyle, including eating a healthy diet, not smoking, limiting alcohol use, getting enough sleep and rest and finally taking enough physical activity.

 However memory problems are sometimes more serious and can profoundly affect everyday life activities, such as cooking, driving a car, handling money or finding the way home. In this case memory loss is not a normal age-related phenomenon, but is often a symptom of a more serious underlying condition.

Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss

 Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are perhaps the most well known conditions associated with memory loss, but they are not the only ones. Other medical conditions that can cause memory problems include: emotional problems, such as stress, depression, loneliness and anxiety; tumors, infections or blood clots in the brain; head injuries; nutritional deficiencies, such as vitamins B1 and B12; medications, such as sleeping pills, antihistamines and antidepressants; some thyroid, liver or kidney dysfunctions. Unlike memory loss caused by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, memory problems resulting from these health issues are usually treatable by treating the underlying condition. 

 But Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia have no cure so far. They are usually progressive diseases and involve serious impairment not only of memory, but also of other brain functions, such as language, motor and behavioural functions. This is particularly apparent in Alzheimer’s disease patients who, in the last stages of the disease, lose completely their speech and movement abilities and are no longer able to carry out even the simplest tasks on their own.

 Although there is no definitive treatment* for Alzheimer’s disease, its progression can be slowed down (and symptoms alleviated) when it is diagnosed in its early stages. At the moment there are only a few medications that can help slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s and reduce the severity of symptoms for a limited time, but of course research is ongoing and it is not unlikely that new, more effective treatments will emerge in the near future.